Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Tea Party in Philaburbia

PHILABURBIA, Pennsylvania, USA. "A dark night in a world that thinks it knows how to keep its secrets. But in a small office, just north of Philly, one man is still looking for the answers to many of life's persistent questions: Leigh Irwin, Investigative Reporter." (MUSIC FADE)

It had been a bit overcast yesterday morning outside the Blue Fountain in Philaburbia. I was having the normal breakfast - eggs, home fries, wheat toast, a cup of coffee, and a glass of ice water...very important, the ice water.

I was reading the Opinion section of the local paper. One of my favorite columnists, David Broder, the Dean of the Washington press corps, had written a piece. In this paper it was entitled, "Locked in an Ideological Box." I found out later that the article had originally appeared in the Sunday version of the Washington Post under the title, "The Obama Effect - Are you With Him or Against Him?" [note 1]

It had only taken me reading the first few words to spot what I thought I might find in his column:

"Most evident in the periodic eruptions of tea party support for right-wing candidates for governor or senator,..." (italics mine).

"Tea party"...I wonder what's going to happen with this whole tea party thing? It's already a movement across the country, small right now next to the two major parties. But it's growing. Is it just a blip in the historical horizon of America or will it really develop into perhaps a new ideaology, a new way of thinking? Or will it bring back some of the old ideaology, the old way of thinking? In some ways it looks alright. But in other ways it's just plain scarey.

Well, whether I like it or not, the new boss wants me to check it out. Why? I don't know for sure entirely. Maybe he knows like I am quickly learning that the roots of this very different tree run deeper than most people realize.

I wonder? Will my family and friends even read what I write? Well, the Lord knows what I'm doing. That's all that matters. Sure hope the sun comes out shining this morning. Maybe I'll check the local weather report...

"A dark night in a world that thinks it knows how to keep its secrets. But in a small office, just north of Philly, one man is still looking for the answers to many of life's persistent questions: Leigh Irwin, Investigative Reporter." (MUSIC FADE)

Hey, check out this episode of Guy Noir on You Tube. You'll hear what the first and last paragraph of this piece would sound like if Leigh Irwin were on the radio. [November 22, 2008 episode]

Note 1: When you click on the link to the Washington Post story it might ask you to "subscribe." It won't cost you anything. You just need to give a little information to have a username and password where you can get into the site basically anytime you want to.